Compare towns
Kensington vs Hanover vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Kensington | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009 |
8,479Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
| Kensington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kensington School District | — | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.